War On The Rocks

GULF OF GUINEA MARITIME SECURITY: LESSONS, LATENCY, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT

On January 1, 2024, Nigerian pirates attacked the Hana 1, a small chemical tanker in Equatorial Guinea's waters, kidnapping nine crew members.
June 13, 2024

ANTI-PIRACY LESSONS FROM THE SEYCHELLES

In January 2024, the Seychelles Coast Guard demonstrated its capacity to counter piracy when they rescued a Sri Lankan fishing trawler, Lorenzo Putha 4, hijacked by Somali pirates.
June 04, 2024

THE EAST AND SOUTH CHINA SEAS: ONE SEA, NEAR SEAS, WHOSE SEAS?

Amidst the vast expanse of the Indo-Pacific lie two seas of immense strategic importance: the East and South China Seas.
May 27, 2024

How maritime law enforcement can combat China’s gray-zone aggression

In recent events, China's Coast Guard has displayed aggression in the South China Sea, notably forcing a Filipino fishing crew away from Scarborough Shoal, a territory recognized as belonging to the..
May 01, 2024

It's Time for a Comprehensive National Maritime Strategy

The United States faces a unique challenge as a global power without control over its commercial shipping.
April 18, 2024

Iran's Proxy Fleets-in-Being

When discussing the risks posed by Iran’s asymmetric capabilities and proxy tactics at sea, observers have overlooked the possibility of Tehran employing a historical maritime strategy called the..
August 01, 2023

Tackling maritime security requires a revised Indo-Pacific Strategy

Criminals are nothing if not flexible. As the United States considers how to grapple with the challenges stemming from illegal and unreported fishing, War on the Rocks' research has shown that..
July 11, 2023
10 Min Read

Libya’s Fragile Deadlock

Central Intelligence Agency Director Bill Burns made whirlwind visits to Benghazi and Tripoli on January 12, asking contending Libyan leaders to expel roughly a thousand Russian personnel and help..
March 16, 2023

Red Sea Drones: Countering Houthi Maritime Tactics

Mariners in the Red Sea have long been threatened by pirates, but they now must deal with a much more modern threat as well: unmanned explosive boats.
September 15, 2021